Work emerging

                                                               Culloden the Battlefield     detail of 72"x30" oil on canvas


I've been working on other themes besides oilrigs since my return from The Cromarty Firth. 

Not far from the city of Inverness is the Culloden battlefield site, now stewarded by the Scottish National Trust.

It has a wonderful visitors centre with a very graphic exhibition of the actual battle. However, I found the explanations and assimmilated sound effects all rather overwhelming and had to make a hasty retreat!  And then I found myself, outside walking through the battlefield itself. 

It was a very miserable, cold September day with low cloud and drizzle.  The expanse of land before me was desolate and uncompromising and there was a tangible 'atmosphere' that I found depressing....I thought then, that this must have been pretty much how it felt on the day of the battle, 16 April 1746. 

I was chilled by this experience and went off to seek a pleasant, warm hotel and some tasty food.

I was suprised therefore when on my return to the studio....that this powerful image of Culloden had followed me !  I quickly started this painting a few weeks ago...the image developed very quickly but as  the paint went on very thickly I am now waiting for it to dry before continuing with its next layer.

Drawing Again

                                                         Drawing of village of Cromarty and oilrig in Firth

At last some oilrig drawings emerging. 

I have spent some weeks now considering the photographs that I took in situ and at last I have made quite a few small drawings of different rigs in different settings.  Several of these drawing are making an impact and I will take them further.  This one in particular.  So I am enlarging this to do quite a sizeable drawing.

The size of these structures in comparison to the village houses is extraordinary and often not appreciated as the rigs are often only seen in a great expanse of sea!

I have thought it could be interesting, ultimately, to put the paintings on floating alluminium.  I have ordered some small alluminium frames to experiment with.    So watch this space!

October Trip to Scotland - Cromarty Firth

                                                                 Cromarty Firth oil rig


I have just purchased a new commercial van and so decided, on the spur of the moment, that I had to take a trip North. 

I wanted to see these oil rigs in situ.   Although the weather was not conducive to making big drawings I did take loads of photos and managed some small, rather technical drawings.  These drawings help me to understand the structure of the oil rig and their 'presence' in the landscape.

This small industrial landscape around the Cromarty Firth hold some of the most contemporary iconic images of Scotland today.  Its this that I am exploring in my work.

However, this landscape is also in the shadow of Culloden and its significance to the Scottish psyche is of paramount interest as I develop this Scottish work.

The new van was great and I had such easy access to all my equipment in the back.  Its well and truly run in now!

Wirksworth Festival Sept 2012

Stone Casket i

 

I have just made a small booklet of Wirksworth Caskets linked to quotes from the novel

 'Adam Bede' by George Eliot. 

 

It is also the Wirksworth Visual Art Festival this month.  Next weekend 8/9 September is the Art Trail. 

 It is a fantastic festival to find out more look on their website.  www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk

 

I am enjoying these images, their mysteriousness and 'presence'. 

 I am also exploring their potential of being translated into site-specific work.

 

More information about the booklet will soon be available on my website:

www.sheilaghjevons.co.uk

At last painting is on the way again!

                                                      Blood and the Land  oil on Canvas

This is a detail of the larger work which is 60insx30ins.  Working in the new studio is a wonder.  Seeing all the work in progress on the wall together is having a wonderful feeling of  of images and ideas flowing around and giving a real sense of where the work is going.

Also computer has been renewed. That has taken some weeks to fully get up and running again.

What a relief!

                                                                     
                                                                    The Arrow of Time

At last some new work on the way.  This large work 5ft x 4ft has been around for several years and now complete. 

This work is taking me down a path that is exploring the importance of the contribution of culture to our human experience.  

The Arrow of Time's images of stones represent the solid foundation of artistic achievement in the present and the past.  The simple image of The Museum has crept in as a reminder that the Museum holds our treasures, ideas and artefacts.   

New Studio

 Farm Studio

Just moved into a new studio.  A great space and more room to manouvre!  It looks pristine but no doubt will fill up with pictures and paints soon. 

Really pleased to have this challenge of a bigger space and the opportunity of making some large work again.

This development has taken up a lot of time and energy in the last few weeks so eager to get back to the creative work.

The two scottish paintings are ready to be completed. And more landscape images to be started.

April Activity

Here again after a busy month.  Illuminated Field Exhibition looks good in Wenlock Guildhall. Thank you to all of you who have been to see my new work.  It was lovely to see so many of you at the Opening on Good Friday.  Those of you who have not been but would like to, the exhibition continues til Sunday 29th April. 

                                                Limekiln Entrance with mock up abstract painting


Meanwhile I have been working on a proposal for some work in Wirksworth.  This site specific work has re kindled this way of working and I am very interested in developing some of these ideas in other venues.

Back from Northern travels

                                                                                 

Illuminated Field ii



Illuminated Field Exhibition

Guildhall in Much Wenlock

2-29 April 2012

Mon-Sat 10.30am-1pm, 2-4.30pm Sun 2-4.30pm

dont forget to look on my new website

www.sheilaghjevons.co.uk

I have just been up to the Yorkshire Dales to see Carol another painter.  We have a contract with each other to send work or written intention of work each month.  This arrangement keeps us focused and supports our endeavours.

Getting There

       


                                            Work nearly completed for the exhibition:

Illuminated Field


2nd April - 29th April


Much Wenlock Guildhall 

                                                Cava Cairns Scotland -  used in new work




                look at website, exhibitions for more info        www.sheilaghjevons.co.uk


Absolutely delighted with the website.  Still needing more work but it will give you a flavour!

The field with the treasure in it v

Another  image with the tower.  There are several of these now and working well.  Will probably develop this way of working with new image on left.  Watch this space.

I nearly have the work ready for the Much Wenlock Guildhall exhibition in April. 

 Also the website is coming along and should be ready for April launch too.



Very Cold but in the studio

                                                  The Treasure in it  ii  Acrylic on paper


Working on this series of paintings with this rather mysterious tower.  Finding working spontaneously with the paint very exciting as I have alway rather shied away from this 'gestural' way of making paintings.  Also enjoying using acrylic paint and the speed at which it dries is so much quicker compared with oils and that helps to keep the work flowing a bit more fluidly. That too is assisting this process.

Very very cold weather which is making time in the studio rather limited as I can feel the cold coming up through the concrete floor so have to limit myself to just a few hours each day.

However, I am also making input into my website which Paul at Virtual Shropshire is putting together for me.  I am hoping it will all be up and running by the beginning of April.

More about exhibition 'Illuminated Field' next time.

In the Studio

                                         ' The one field with the treasure in it'  acrylic on canvas

Another piece for the exhibition in April.  Bringing in my treasure tower image which started as a little drawing inspired by Vaughan Williams's song - Cloud Clapped Towers which I heard when in hospital.

'Illuminated Field and Other Paintings'

at the Guildhall in Much Wenlock during

April 2012

I have been in the studio a lot this last week despite the freezing temperatures.  I am making work for a small exhibition..........


 in April.


Illuminated Field and Other Paintings


at The Guildhall in Much Wenlock


this work will be exploring further the sentiments of the RS Thomas poem The Bright Field


Although this text underlies this particular work it is the wonder of the landscape and its interaction with the natural forces, geological and atmospherical, as well as the intervention of humankind that informs my practice.

"I have seen the sun break through

to illuminate a small field'

RS Thomas

Acrylic on Paper

Another year has passed since writing in this blog.  Far too long...........hopefully this year will be better and I will have more time to update this.  I have put up this image of Prees Heath as it has a long path.....I have just come down this and about to embark on a new year and new work.  Settling down into a routine again and finding my way into working......